weekly legislative update

As I mentioned in the previous posting, the governor called a special legislative session to look into property tax reform. Information from that session is included here as well. Standard caveats apply (resolutions not generally included, list of sponsors deleted if it was too long – three lines in the originally formatting).

Our accountants friends at PICPA have not updated their legislative page. Other weekly updates:

PA House Democrats
PA House GOP daily updates

PA Senate Democrats

PS Senate Republicans

Special Session

These bills were introduced, or referred to a committee, not voted on. The descriptions tended to be pretty much the same, with only a few variations.

HB 39 Prior Printer's No. 41. Printer's No. 62. An Act amending the act of December 31, 1965 (P.L.1257, No.511), known as The Local Tax Enabling Act, restricting the power of certain school districts to levy, assess and collect taxes.
Passed and now referred to legislation

Monday 2 bills referred to finance committee, to appropriations, HB 39, 42, 43, acted upon in some way (House); bill referred to legislation (Senate)
Tuesday no activity in the House, 2 bills referred to legislation (Senate)
Wednesday 0 bills referred to finance committee (House). 2 bills referred to legislation (Senate)
Thursday no activity
Friday no activity

Regular Session

Please note SB713, prohibiting cell phone companies from publishing your number without your permission. Good job on that one. Resolution 522 sounds wonderful but I wonder if it’s in the budget….

Resolutions

Serial No. 522 A Resolution declaring December 5 through 9, 2005, as "Dream Come True Week" in Pennsylvania.

Serial No. 518 A Resolution commending Pennsylvanians on their recent volunteer efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.

SR 524 A Resolution recognizing December 10 through 16, 2005, as "Bill of Rights Week" in Pennsylvania.

There were 3 resolutions honoring fallen soldiers.

Bills

House

HB 344 Printer's No. 365. An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, excluding smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and other fire prevention and fire safety equipment from the sales and use tax.

HB 496 Prior Printer's No. 535. Printer's No. 3157. An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for the offense of the destruction of a survey monument; further providing for actions relating to land surveying; and making an editorial change.

HB 1350 Printer's No. 1608. An Act designating State Route 291 in Delaware County as the Willie Mae James Leake Memorial Highway.

HB 1427 Prior Printer's Nos. 1737, 2883. Printer's No. 3155. An Act amending the act of December 31, 1965 (P.L.1257, No.511), known as The Local Tax Enabling Act, further providing for collection of taxes, for audits of earned income taxes, for earned income taxes, for suits for tax collection, for penalties and for delinquent tax collection costs.

HB 1528 Printer's No. 1877. An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for licenses and fees relating to taxidermists.

HB 2041 Prior Printer's Nos. 2818, 3027. Printer's No. 3156. An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, further providing for the Health Care Provider Retention Program and for reporting.

HB 39 Prior Printer's No. 41. Printer's No. 62. An Act amending the act of December 31, 1965 (P.L.1257, No.511), known as The Local Tax Enabling Act, restricting the power of certain school districts to levy, assess and collect taxes.

SB 260 By Senators ARMSTRONG, STACK, THOMPSON, RHOADES, MUSTO, RAFFERTY, KITCHEN, ORIE and O'PAKE. Printer's No. 264. An Act joining with other states in an effort to establish an interstate compact to regulate designated insurance products.

SB 573 By Senators GORDNER, LOGAN, PILEGGI, RAFFERTY, VANCE and WONDERLING. Prior Printer's No. 623. Printer's No. 1382. An Act amending the act of May 21, 1943 (P.L.571, No.254), known as The Fourth to Eighth Class County Assessment Law, further providing for valuation of persons and property.

SB 599 By Senators D. WHITE and CORMAN. Prior Printer's Nos. 670, 1322. Printer's No. 1380. An Act amending the act of December 21, 1998 (P.L.1064, No.140), entitled "An act designating Route 581 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, as the American Ex-Prisoners of War Highway; designating a section of the Bay Front Parkway in Erie County, Pennsylvania, as the Bernard (Benny) J. Dombrowski Memorial Highway; designating a section of Route 26 in Centre County, Pennsylvania, as the Nittany Parkway; designating a bridge in Bethel Township, Lebanon County, as the Senator Clarence F. Manbeck Bridge; designating the Mount Union Bypass in Huntingdon County as the James DiCosimo Bypass; designating a portion of Route 26 in Huntingdon County as the Standing Stone Parkway; designating a portion of State Route 0094 in York and Cumberland counties as the 94th Infantry Division Memorial Highway; and designating a bridge in Chester County as the Ben Weaver Bridge," extending the Bernard (Benny) J Dombrowski Memorial Highway; designating State Route 132 in Bucks County as the Armed Forces and Veterans Memorial Highway; designating a bridge on State Route 150 crossing the Beech Creek in Clinton and Centre Counties as the Beech Creek Veterans Memorial Bridge; designating State Route 291 in Delaware County as the Willie Mae James Leake Memorial Highway; and designating a road in Philadelphia County as Senator Hank Salvatore Drive.

Senate

HB 1400 Printer's No. 1688. An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for indecent assault.

HB 2082 By Representatives ALLEN, DALLY, SAYLOR, PETRARCA, ZUG, TRUE, FEESE, ARGALL and KAUFFMAN. Prior Printer's Nos. 2872, 2886, 3037, 3117. Printer's No. 3152. An Act establishing spending limitations on the Commonwealth; providing for the disposition of surplus funds; and making a repeal of provisions in The Fiscal Code relating to the funding of a stabilization reserve.

SB 178 By Senators CORMAN, WONDERLING, RAFFERTY, TOMLINSON, KITCHEN, COSTA, LAVALLE, STACK, ORIE, RHOADES, ERICKSON, BOSCOLA, C. WILLIAMS, LOGAN and PIPPY. Prior Printer's Nos. 188, 408, 1237. Printer's No. 1374. An Act amending the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act, further providing for powers and duties of the Office of Victims' Services and for Victims' Services Advisory Committee membership.

SB 987 By Senator CORMAN. Printer's No. 1297. An Act authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to Centre County Industrial Development Corporation, certain lands situate in Benner Township, Centre County.

HB 1049 Prior Printer's Nos. 1205, 1959, 2884. Printer's No. 3153. An Act amending the act of June 19, 1931 (P.L.589, No.202), referred to as the Barbers' License Law, further providing for license application for barber-teacher, for examination and for requirements for operation of barber shops.

SB 713 Prior Printer's Nos. 880, 1331. Printer's No. 1376. An Act prohibiting a provider of commercial mobile service from including the dialing number of any subscriber without first obtaining the express consent of that subscriber.

SB 798 By Senators BROWNE, PILEGGI, ARMSTRONG, M. WHITE, BOSCOLA and COSTA. Prior Printer's No. 991. Printer's No. 1360. An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for right to bail.

SB 995 By Senators M. WHITE, MUSTO, MADIGAN, PUNT, FONTANA, EARLL, PIPPY, ROBBINS and WONDERLING. Prior Printer's Nos. 1299, 1305, 1370. Printer's No. 1381. An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for a snowmobile or ATV restricted account; providing for snowmobile or ATV special event passes; and further providing for registration of snowmobile or ATV.

SB 999 By Senators LEMMOND, THOMPSON, EARLL, D. WHITE, RAFFERTY, MUSTO, PILEGGI, GORDNER, WENGER, WAUGH, WONDERLING and ROBBINS. Printer's No. 1327. An Act reenacting and amending the act of October 8, 2004 (P.L.830, No.98), entitled "An act providing for effect of standards adopted by the Voting Standards Development Board in the 2004 general election," expanding the scope to include all elections in 2006 and 2007.